Jahan Zeb | Chitral Today
Drosh, Dec 5, 2025: An urgent meeting of the residents of Kalkatak was held at Jamia Masjid Kalkatak under the chairmanship of retired Superintendent Azizur Rahman to deliberate on emerging concerns regarding attempts to remove timber debris from the Beori deodar forests.
Speaking to the participants, Rahman said that despite a provincial government ban enforced through the Forest Department, certain self-serving elements continue to push through newspapers and other media platforms for permission to transport what they describe as “timber debris” from the forest to the market.
He clarified that no official marking or lawful cutting has been carried out in the Beori forests for the past 45 years, making the claim of the presence of large volumes of natural debris questionable. Instead, he added, it is widely known that the timber mafia and local smugglers exploit such pretexts each year to carry out extensive illegal felling.
Through these activities, they extract thousands of cubic feet of valuable deodar wood, transport it to their desired locations, and earn enormous financial gains.
Participants of the meeting expressed serious concerns over weak enforcement, inadequate staffing, and negligence within the Forest Department, which they said had created an environment where illegal timber operations can flourish without meaningful accountability.
Residents pointed out that despite repeatedly submitting complaints, passing resolutions and issuing public notices to the DFO Chitral, no tangible or effective action has been seen on the ground.
They stated that the small amount of debris currently present within the forest is largely the by-product of illegal cutting rather than natural processes. They stressed that this debris actually plays a vital protective role, as it helps reduce the speed and intensity of floodwaters during heavy rains.
Removing it, they warned, would eliminate a natural barrier that slows down water flow and reduces pressure on downstream settlements.
Azizur Rahman cautioned that clearing the debris could result in potentially devastating flooding, enabling high-velocity floodwaters to rush unimpeded toward the expansive village of Kalkatak located at the confluence of the Beori nala. He warned that such an event could cause widespread destruction to agricultural lands, standing crops, homes, and other properties before the water eventually enters the Chitral River.
The residents of Kalkatak, in consultation with the communities of Beori, opposed any move to remove the debris from the forest. They called for the provincial government’s existing ban to remain fully intact and urged authorities to adopt stringent and effective measures against illegal felling.
They also demanded meaningful forest protection efforts and concrete steps to curb the influence and activities of the timber mafia and smugglers operating in the region.
Related:
Chitral timber mafia making hay out of govt’s ‘windfall policy’.
Govt hands in glove with timber mafia in destroying Chitral’s forests.